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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Josh Beckett said he will be ready for the start of the Dodgers season after having a rib removed last July in a surgery to alleviate a nerve condition that was affecting his right arm "I dont have numbness and tingling, anymore," Beckett said Monday. No doubts, either. The right-hander is expected to battle newly acquired Paul Maholm for the fifth spot in the Dodgers starting rotation this spring. Beckett, the fifth starter before last years mid-season surgery, breezed through his first bullpen session Monday in Arizona. He threw 30 pitches with no sign of trouble. "Im not tentative," said Beckett, who reported to camp a day late so he could attend a wedding. "Im going to throw as hard as I can and see what happens. Right now, I feel great. Ill throw the ball until I blow out and Im hoping thats not for a few more years." The Dodgers signing of Maholm on Saturday is considered a hedge against the possibility of further injury to Beckett, a three-time All-Star whom the Dodgers acquired from Boston along with Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto in a 2012 trade. "Josh is doing really well, but hes coming off tough surgery and theres not a lot of history with that surgery, so well see where things go," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. Beckett underwent the same surgical procedure that former St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter underwent in July 2012. Carpenter went on to pitch in six more games in 2012 -- three in the regular season and three in the playoffs. But Carpenter did not pitch in 2013. He announced his retirement in November. Beckett said he has spoken to Carpenter. He said he was told Carpenters nerve condition was more severe than his own. Beckett also said the surgery was more complicated. Dr. Greg Pearl of Dallas performed both procedures. Carpenters experience and advice helped, he said. "It got me through the mental part," said Beckett, who was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA when he landed on the disabled list on May 14. Neck problems and numbness in his right hand had troubled Beckett for the last few years. It got to the point where he learned how to drive with only his left hand. There were times, he said, when he couldnt feel the steering wheel with his right. "Its crazy how simple things become difficult to do," he said. The surgery, which also includes removal of some connective tissue, alleviated pressure on a nerve in his neck, he said. He never felt any pain. But there were moments when he had no control of his pitches. "I didnt know if I was going to throw it over the backstop," he said. "I had no idea where it was going to go." Beckett arrived in camp with his confidence bolstered by three workouts during the last couple of weeks in Texas. He threw off a mound twice, on Jan. 31 and again on Feb 3. Cold weather forced him inside on Feb. 6 where he threw 38 pitches off a flat surface. Beckett has no illusions about the competition he faces in camp. "Its just if hes healthy," Mattingly said. "Josh throws the ball good. Hes been a quality pitcher for a long time and he still has good stuff. How he bounces back, well see. Weve had nothing but positive reports all winter. Josh has never been in the bullpen. Obviously, its a competitive situation. Were not handing anything out for anybody. If hes healthy, well see." Beckett expects to have more time to prepare than the Dodgers calendar might indicate. They break camp in Arizona after a March 16 game and travel to Australia for a pair of regular-season games in Sydney against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 22 and 23. "Im probably not going to start opening day in Australia," Beckett said. "Theyre paying a guy a lot of money to do that. Not all of us are getting ready for those days. Some of us have a little more time than it appears we do." NOTES: Outfielder Yasiel Puig is already in camp. Mattingly might open the season with the versatile Puig at the top of the Dodgers batting order. .The rest of the team is scheduled to report on Thursday. Byron Murphy Womens Jersey . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. Hakeem Butler Womens Jersey . Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Adrian-Wilson-Cardinals-Jersey/ . An unconventional night for Texas-El Paso nearly led to the Miners getting a huge upset. Down by 14 with 2:21 left, the Miners went on a frantic closing spurt that fell just short, and UTEP was beaten by No. Zach Allen Womens Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. Kurt Warner Cardinals Jersey . - After spending the morning in the hospital, Logan Couture gave the San Jose Sharks the spark they needed.LONDON -- John Terry marked his 400th Premier League appearance with a goal as Chelsea fought back from an early deficit to beat Southampton 3-1 Sunday and move to second in the standings. After a sloppy start that saw Jose Mourinhos team concede a goal just after kickoff, Chelsea recovered in the second half to close the gap to league leader Arsenal to four points. Michael Essiens poor back pass allowed Jay Rodriguez to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge after 13 seconds. Southampton held on until Garry Cahill levelled with a header from close range in the 56th. Terry then put Chelsea in front with a glancing header in the 62nd minute for his 34th Premier League goal before substitute Demba Ba put the game beyond reach. "It was important not to panic and keep the emotional balance," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "We waited for halftime to change the game. The players were fantastic and it was difficult for Southampton. We spoke before the game that with others losing points this was a must-win game." Chelsea built its sixth home win from seven games on an an excellent second-half performance capped with goals from its centre-backs Cahill and Terry, and Bas first Premier League goal of the season.dddddddddddd Ba, who hit the post from the corner which led to Cahills equalizer, had replaced Essien at halftime. Chelsea found themselves behind almost immediately after Essien sent the ball over Cahill for Rodriguez to calmly slot home. Southampton keeper Artur Boruc then saved Oscars shot before James Ward-Prowse curled a free kick wide for the Saints as Essien was clearly outpaced and Southampton dominated in midfield. Things changed after halftime as Chelsea gradually took the upper hand and was rewarded when Juan Matas set-piece found Branislav Ivanovic, whose header was redirected by Ba onto the post before Cahill headed the ball in from the rebound. Terry then rose above defenders following a half-cleared corner to send Stamford Bridge into rapture and Ba finally added the third after converting a Ramires cross. "After we got the first goal it was fairly even sided," said Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino. "We are unhappy but there were a number of decisions that did not go our way. The ones you dont see are perhaps more important. There was no doubt that the players will react positively. But lest we forget we were playing Chelsea." ' ' '